Analytics sampling rate is intentionally configured

Session recording tools (PostHog, Hotjar, Microsoft Clarity) with no explicit sampling rate default to recording every session. On a medium-to-large project this creates unexpected data volume, processing costs, and storage costs that compound as traffic grows. From an iso-25010:2011 Performance efficiency perspective, unsampled session recording on high-traffic pages can also introduce measurable page weight from the recording SDK. This is an informational signal — default settings are not a crisis, but an intentional sampling configuration is a sign the project has thought through its analytics operational costs.

Set an explicit sample_rate in your session recording tool's initialization. For PostHog:

// posthog.init call — typically in app/layout.tsx or lib/analytics.ts
posthog.init(process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_POSTHOG_KEY!, {
  api_host: process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_POSTHOG_HOST,
  session_recording: {
    sample_rate: 0.1,  // Record 10% of sessions; adjust for traffic volume
  },
})

For Hotjar, set the recording sample rate in the Hotjar dashboard under Settings → Recording. Review your analytics tool's pricing tier before going to production on a high-traffic site — most platforms charge by recorded session volume.

• ID: sampling-rate-configured

• Severity: info

• What to look for: For high-traffic sites, analytics sampling can distort data. Check whether sampling is explicitly configured (or explicitly left at default). Look for:

  • sampleRate or sample_rate config in analytics initialization
  • Session replay sampling (PostHog session_recording with sample_rate < 1)
  • GTM or GA4 sampling configuration
  • Heatmap tool sampling config (Hotjar, Microsoft Clarity)

• Pass criteria: Count every session recording or sampling-sensitive tool. Either the project has fewer than 20 routes (small — unlikely to hit sampling limits), sampling is explicitly configured at 100% or less (or appropriate rate), or 0 sampling-sensitive tools are used.

• Fail criteria: At least 1 session recording tool (PostHog recordings, Hotjar, Clarity) is detected with no explicit sampling rate configuration, on a project that appears to be medium (20 or more routes) or large in size.

• Skip (N/A) when: No session recording or sampling-sensitive analytics tools present. Skip for small projects (fewer than 20 routes).

• Detail on fail: "PostHog session recording enabled with no explicit sample_rate configuration. For a large project, 100% session recording may create unexpected data volume and costs."

• Remediation: For session recording tools, set an explicit sample rate:

  posthog.init(key, {
    session_recording: {
      sample_rate: 0.1,  // Record 10% of sessions
    }
  })
  

  This is informational — default settings are fine for most projects. Review your analytics tool's pricing and default sampling behavior before going to production on a high-traffic site.